Department for Transport

Air Pollution

Mr Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent steps he has taken in response to the recommendation of the Fourth Report of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, Fourth Report of the Environmental Audit Committee, Third Report of the Health and Social Care Committee, and Second Report of the Transport Committee of Session 2017–19 on Improving air quality, HC 433, that the Government aligns (a) climate change schemes, (b) urban planning, (c) public transport and (d) fiscal incentives with air quality goals to prevent its policy from working at cross-purposes.

Jesse Norman: The Government responded in full to the recommendations on 22 May 2018. The Government’s focus in the immediate term is on bringing forward compliance with legal limits for NO2 concentrations, and stakeholders from seven departments take part in the governance of the NO2 Plan in order to ensure that policies are closely aligned.The Government published its new Clean Air Strategy on 14 January 2019, setting out a comprehensive plan to tackle air pollution, aimed at all sectors of industry and society.

Shipping

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has allocated funding to the shipping industry to prepare for the UK leaving the EU.

Chris Grayling: The shipping industry is a global business sector well used to handling international trade beyond the EU. UK shipping is predominantly private-sector-owned and does not rely on government subsidy.

Parking: Pedestrian Areas

Liz Twist: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to announce the results of his review of pavement parking which began in summer 2018.

Jesse Norman: The Department for Transport has now completed its evidence gathering on the issue of pavement parking. We are considering the findings of this work and will announce any further actions over the coming months.

M5: Accidents

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the recent conclusion of the inquest into the September 2017 M5 van crash in which five people died informed his decision to consult on banning dangerous old tyres.

Jesse Norman: Holding answer received on 07 March 2019



The decision to consult was taken before the Coroner’s Inquest into the tragic collision on 16 September 2017. It was based on the emerging body of evidence, collated by the Department for Transport, over several years including that obtained from vehicle inspections and the important new research commissioned in January 2018.The Department also commissioned an independent examiner in relation to the tyre implicated in the collision of 16 September 2017. The Department became aware of new evidence implicating tyre ageing directly in the cause of the collision on 21 February 2019, evidence with which the Department's independent examiner concurred. The analysis from the independent experts included as testimony at the inquest formed an important contribution to the Department's emerging evidence base. Ministers were informed of this new evidence on 22 February 2019

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Fracking: Earthquakes

Lee Rowley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the evidential basis is for the decision to suspension hydraulic fracturing operations for 18 hours as a result of induced seismic activity of >0.5 magnitude.

Claire Perry: Following minor seismic events at Preese Hall in 2011, an expert scientific review recommended that a traffic light system (TLS) be put in place, under which hydraulic fracturing operations should be paused if a seismic event was detected at or above a precautionary threshold of magnitude 0.5. The intention of the TLS was to minimise disturbance to local communities and to avoid harm to people or the environment. The TLS was developed in consultation with industry.The Oil and Gas Authority monitors seismicity as part of their regulatory duties at shale gas sites and requires certain controls and requirements to be adhered to as set out in a Hydraulic Fracture Plan (HFP) which must be agreed between the operator and the regulators before operations can start. The TLS did not specify a pause period after a 0.5 magnitude event, however as a part of the HFP for their first well at Preston New Road, Cuadrilla proposed that they would pause for a minimum of 18 hours should a seismic event greater, or equal to, the 0.5 magnitude threshold be detected. The regulators considered that this was reasonable to allow them sufficient time to analyse seismic data and minimise the risk of trailing events.

Fracking: Earthquakes

Lee Rowley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the traffic light monitoring system for regulating fracking-induced seismicity, for what reason trailing events of over 0.5 magnitude are not categorised as red events.

Claire Perry: The Traffic Light System applies to seismic events recorded during injection or pumping operations, therefore red events are categorised as those of magnitude 0.5 or greater occurring during these operations. However, the Hydraulic Fracture Plan (HFP) for Cuadrilla’s operations at Preston New Road stipulated that any trailing event recorded at magnitude 0.5, or above, also required an 18 hour pause to allow for monitoring and assessment. The HFP must be agreed between the operator and regulators ahead of operations commencing.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Israel: Palestinians

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the UK Government has been consulted on the proposals to be put forward by the US President in the plan entitled, Deal of the Century in relation to Israel.

Alistair Burt: We have met with the President of the US Special Envoys for MEPP on a number of occasions but these meetings have not been formal consultations. We have encouraged the US Administration to bring forward detailed proposals for a viable Israel-Palestinian peace agreement that addresses the legitimate concerns of both parties. We continue to believe the best way to achieve this is through substantive peace talks between the parties leading to a two-state solution.

Uganda: LGBT People

Angela Crawley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to promote LGBTI rights in Uganda.

Angela Crawley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to promote LGBTI rights in Kenya.

Angela Crawley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking in response to reports of abuse of LGBTI refugees in Kenya's Kakuma refugee camp.

Harriett Baldwin: ​The UK is totally opposed to all forms of discrimination, and works to uphold the rights and freedoms of LGBTI people in all circumstances. Through our embassies and high commissions, and through international organisations including the UN, EU, OSCE, the Council of Europe and the Commonwealth, we work to promote tolerance and non-discrimination against LGBTI people and to address discriminatory laws, including those that criminalise homosexuality. In particular, the UK stands ready to support any Commonwealth member wanting to reform outdated legislation that makes such discrimination possible.Our High Commission in Kampala engages closely with civil society groups in Uganda working to promote inclusivity, diversity, and tolerance, in coordination with our international partners. We continue to support and fund training related to protection of LGBTI rights and provide support to groups working to improve the protection of minority rights. The UK welcomed the decision of the Ugandan Constitutional Court to annul the Anti-Homosexuality Act on 1 August 2014. Our High Commission in Kampala will continue to raise our concerns with the Ugandan Government about any legislation which could lead to persecution and discrimination against LGBTI people.In Kenya, the High Commission in Nairobi has supported Kenyans from LGBTI groups to attend international forums on LGBTI rights.We are aware of reports of abuse of LGBTI refugees in Kakuma Refugee camp and have been in close touch with UNHCR, who manage the camp, about how best to help those individuals. In January, UNHCR reported that all LGBTI refugees had been moved from Kakuma to a safe house. UNHCR continues to work closely with a local civil society organisation to help the refugees settle into their new community.

Yemen: International Law

Stephen Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Joint Incident Assessment Team in investigating breeches of international humanitarian law in Yemen.

Alistair Burt: The UK welcomes the release by the Coalition Joint Incident Assessment Team (JIAT) of over 100 statements from investigations into incidents of alleged breaches of international humanitarian law (IHL) in Yemen. We regularly raise the importance of compliance with IHL with the Saudi Arabian Government and other members of the Coalition.

Yemen: Medecins Sans Frontieres

Stephen Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the validity of the findings of the Joint Incidents Assessment Team investigation into the bombing of a Médecins Sans Frontières cholera treatment centre in Abs in Yemen on 11 June 2018.

Alistair Burt: It is important that credible allegations of violations of international humanitarian law (IHL) are investigated. We regularly press, including at senior levels, the need for the Saudi-led Coalition to conduct thorough and conclusive investigations into reports of alleged violations of IHL.

Middle East: Christianity

Ross Thomson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will co-ordinate an international effort to encourage Christians and other religious minorities who have left Iraq and Syria to return to those countries to rebuild their lives.

Alistair Burt: The UK supports the right of all Iraqi and Syrian refugees, regardless of religion, to return to their homes safely, voluntarily and in dignity, when conditions allow.Syria is not currently an environment for safe, voluntary and dignified refugee return. We are calling for a negotiated political settlement to end the conflict and create the conditions for refugees to return.During my visit to Iraq in January I raised the importance of voluntary returns of refugees and internationally displaced persons with representatives from the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government. To help enable these returns, the UK has committed over £47 million to directly improve conditions in areas liberated from Daesh in Iraq, including an additional £6.9 million which I announced during my visit.

Pakistan: Christianity

Ross Thomson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what support his Department is providing to Christians on death row on charges of blasphemy in Pakistan  .

Mark Field: It is the British Government's longstanding policy to oppose the death penalty in all circumstances and in all countries. We remain deeply concerned by the misuse of the blasphemy laws and the treatment of minority religious communities, including Christians, in Pakistan.We regularly raise our human rights concerns with the Government of Pakistan at a senior level. Most recently my colleague Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, the Prime Minister's Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, discussed the treatment of minority communities with Pakistan's Federal Minister for Human Rights, Dr Shireen Mazari, during his visit to Pakistan on 18 and 19 February. At the UN Universal Periodic Review of Pakistan in November 2017, the UK pressed Pakistan to strengthen the protection of minorities and to explain the steps being taken to tackle the abuse of the blasphemy laws.To ensure the United Kingdom is supporting Christians in the best possible way, the Foreign Secretary has commissioned an independent, global review of the support provided to Christians overseas. The Review will consider what additional practical steps the Foreign and Commonwealth Office can take to support persecuted Christians. It will be led by the Bishop of Truro, Rt Revd. Philip Mounstephen, and will make an initial report around Easter.

Egypt: Christianity

Ross Thomson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to promote religious tolerance and justice for Coptic Christians in Egypt.

Alistair Burt: ​We condemn the terrorist attacks targeting the Coptic community and continue to stand with Egypt against terrorism. We regularly raise our concerns over issues affecting Christians with the Egyptian Government and welcome President Sisi's consistent calls for peaceful coexistence. The Prime Minister's Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, visited Cairo in November, where he reaffirmed our mutual commitment to freedom of religion or belief and held a roundtable with religious leaders at the Anglican Cathedral.

Middle East: Christianity

Ross Thomson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help protect the rights of Christian workers in the Middle East.

Alistair Burt: The Foreign Secretary and the Minister for the Commonwealth and the UN have had a number of recent engagements with religious leaders, interested organisations, partner governments and parliamentarians on the issue of Freedom of Religion or Belief and the protection of human rights of Christians and all religious minorities around the world, including in the Middle East. We are also engaged on issues which impact on the situation of Christians working in the Middle East, including the rights of migrant workers and refugees and the ability of members of religious minorities to access labour markets in relevant countries in the region.

Saudi Arabia: Prisoners' Release

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent diplomatic steps he has taken to help secure the release of (a) human rights activists, (b) political opponents and (c) other people detained illegally in Saudi Arabia.

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has made to his Saudi counterpart on the human rights situation in that country.

Alistair Burt: Saudi Arabia remains a Foreign & Commonwealth Office human rights priority country, particularly because of the use of the death penalty, women’s rights and restrictions on freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and freedom of religion or belief. We frequently raise our concerns on human rights with Saudi Arabia, including at Ministerial level, most recently in February.

Yemen: Humanitarian Aid and Security

Stephen Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of (a) security and (b) the humanitarian situation in (i) Sa'dah, Yemen and (ii) Hajjah, Yemen; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: The UK remains deeply concerned by the security and humanitarian situation in Yemen, including in Sa’dah and Hajjah. We maintain that a political settlement is the only way to bring long-term stability to Yemen.

Sudan: Arrests

Mr Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his Sudanese counterpart on recent reports of the arrest by the Sudan police of fourteen academics in that country.

Harriett Baldwin: We are aware of an incident in February during which a number of academics were arrested by Sudan's security services following a protest outside the University of Khartoum. We understand that these individuals were released within 24 hours. The UK has made frequent representations to the Government of Sudan through official engagement in Khartoum, public messaging and at Ministerial levels, urging the authorities to respect in full the right of the Sudanese people to protest. We continue to call for the immediate release of all of those detained as a result of protests, and for them to be treated in accordance with international standards.

Northern Ireland Office

Terrorism: Northern Ireland

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent assessment she has made of the security situation in Northern Ireland.

Karen Bradley: The threat from dissident republican terrorism continues to be SEVERE in Northern Ireland. This Government’s first priority is to keep people safe and secure. Vigilance against this continuing threat is essential and we remain determined to ensure that terrorism never succeeds.

Department of Health and Social Care

NHS: Drugs

Damien Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the merits of stockpiling drugs so that patients can continue to have access to those drugs in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

Stephen Hammond: Leaving the European Union with a deal remains the Government’s top priority. However, as a responsible Government we must plan for every possible outcome, including ‘no deal’. The Department has published guidance to industry and the health and care system to allow them to make informed plans and preparations. This is available on GOV.UK.The Department has put in place a multi-layered approach to minimise any disruption to the supply of medicines. In August 2018, the Department wrote to all pharmaceutical companies that supply prescription-only and pharmacy medicines to the United Kingdom that come from or via the EU/European Economic Area asking them to ensure a minimum of six weeks’ additional supply in the UK, over and above existing business-as-usual buffer stocks, by 29 March 2019.The response from industry has been hugely positive. The vast majority of companies have confirmed stockpiling plans are in place and medicines continue to arrive to deliver on these plans. We are confident that if everyone does what they need to do, the supply of medicines and other medical products will be uninterrupted.

Department for Education

Pre-school Education: Closures

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 21 February 2019 to question 222631, for what reasons his Department did not refer to whether his Department has made an estimate of the cost to other public services in areas where maintained nursery schools have closed in that Answer.

Nadhim Zahawi: Like all schools, a maintained nursery school (MNS) can close for a wide range of reasons, and closures can happen at any time.There is a statutory process for closing a MNS, and if it does close, the provision that replaces it must be of equal quality, preserve expertise and be more accessible and convenient for parents. The closure of a MNS may result in the staff and children transferring to another provider. The department does not hold information on the impact on other services in an area where MNS have closed.

Students: Loans

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when his Department plans to publish the full guidance for part-time maintenance loans.

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when his Department plans to make distance-learning maintenance loans available.

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the take-up has been of part-time maintenance loans since that loan's inception.

Chris Skidmore: The Department for Education had forecast that 20,000 part-time maintenance loans would be issued for the 2018-19 academic year. Further information can be found in Table 2 of the publication, Student loan forecasts, England: 2017-18:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/720371/Student_loan_forecasts_2017-18_-_tables.xlsx. In January 2019, the Student Loans Company (SLC) published early in-year data on the payments of maintenance loans to part-time students domiciled in England. At the end of December 2019, 2,700 students had been paid a part-time maintenance loan. Further information can be found in Table 7F of the publication:https://www.slc.co.uk/official-statistics/financial-support-awarded/england-higher-education.aspx. The number of part-time maintenance loans issued was lower than had been forecast at this point in the academic year cycle and the demand for a loan product aimed at part-time distance learners is therefore unlikely to be high enough to make the introduction of such a loan economically viable. In light of this, I have decided not to extend maintenance loans to distance leaners in academic year 2019/20. The government remains committed to tackling the decline in part-time undergraduate higher education. In particular, the Review of Post-18 Education and Funding is considering how we can encourage learning that is more flexible, including part-time and distance learning. The review will report this year. The SCL will publish guidance relating to part-time maintenance in advance of the application process opening later this year.

Apprentices: Nottinghamshire

Ben Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many apprenticeships have been created in (a) Mansfield and (b) Nottinghamshire since 2015.

Anne Milton: There have been 4,590 apprenticeship starts in the Mansfield parliamentary constituency between May 2015 and October 2018. There have been 27,740 apprenticeship starts in the Nottinghamshire local authority between May 2015 and October 2018.The number of apprenticeship starts by parliamentary constituency and local authority for the 2014/15 to 2017/18 academic years (final year figures) and quarter 1 of 2018/19 (provisional figures) are available here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/772388/Apprenticeship-starts-ach-geography-tool_201415-Q1201819_Jan2019_v1.xlsx.

Homophobia: Minority Groups

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to tackle homophobic bullying within ethnic minority communities.

Anne Milton: Intolerance and bullying has no place in our society and no one should live in fear of bullying on the basis of their sexuality. As part of our commitments in the government’s Hate Crime Action Plan and Integrated Communities Action Plan, the department is taking forward a number of measures to help the sector prevent and tackle prejudice and bullying, and promote tolerance. This includes continuing to support schools in their requirement to promote our shared values of democracy, individual liberty, the rule of law and mutual respect and tolerance for those with different faiths and beliefs. All schools must have a behaviour policy that includes measures to prevent bullying, and all schools must comply with the requirements of the Equality Act. The department recently published the Respectful Schools Communities toolkit; a self-review and signposting tool to support schools to develop a whole-school approach which promotes respect and discipline. In addition to this, the department is providing over £2.8 million of funding, between September 2016 and March 2020, to 4 anti-bullying organisations to support schools to tackle bullying. This includes projects targeting bullying of particular groups, such as those who are victims of hate related bullying, along with a project to report bullying online.

Treasury

Customs

Chris Law: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the oral evidence of the HMRC director general of border co-ordination to the Public Accounts Committee on 5 November 2018, HC 1595, Question 51, what assessment has been made of the ability of the inland facilities to handle high-risk trade through (a) container and (b) roll-on roll-off ports across all four UK nations.

Chris Law: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the oral evidence of the HMRC chief executive to the Public Accounts Committee on 5 November 2018, HC 1595, Question 53, what additional inland clearance facilities are being planned.

Mel Stride: HMRC has moved its inland pre-clearance operations to new purpose-equipped sites at Hayes and Milton Keynes. Although these sites were originally procured for the examination of Rest of World trade, post EU Exit they will be also be used to examine EU trade, within the capacity available. Checks may be performed on consignments from high risk traders from both container and roll-on roll-off ports across the whole of the UK, if required. The Government will consider the need for further sites as it evolves its approach and assesses any new risks that emerge.

Revenue and Customs: Brexit

Chris Law: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what deployments are proposed by the HMRC surge and rapid response team in respect of the UK leaving the EU.

Mel Stride: The cross-government Surge and Rapid Response Team (SRRT) is available to all government departments to provide assistance with unexpected demands for access to their services and provide operational support in a crisis situation. The team is hosted by HMRC. Requests for support from the SRRT are prioritised using set criteria, including requests in relation to EU exit.

Race Disparity Audit Advisory Group

Chris Law: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions HMRC has had with the Government Race Disparity Audit Advisory Group in the last 12 months.

Mel Stride: There were no discussions between HMRC and the Government Race Disparity Audit Advisory Group in the last 12 months. Annually, HMRC publishes details of the diversity of its workforce, including ethnicity, in compliance with the public sector equality duties of the Equality Act 2010. The most recent report was published on GOV.UK on 31 January 2019 for the period 1 April 2017 to 31 March 2018. HMRC works closely with the Cabinet Office, particularly in tracking progress in increasing the proportion of BAME colleagues at Senior Civil Service level. HMRC’s wider work on race is well-established, with a staff Network, a bespoke talent programme for BAME staff, and an active Diversity Champion who is a member of the HMRC Executive Board.

Customs

Chris Law: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the oral evidence of the HMRC director general for border co-ordination to the Public Accounts Committee on 20 November 2017, HC 558, Questions 78 and 111, what additional infrastructure is planned in each of the four UK nations to facilitate customs-related checks.

Mel Stride: HMRC has well-developed plans to ensure that on day one of a no deal scenario there will be a functioning customs, VAT and excise system. For Day 1 of a No Deal scenario, HMRC’s plans allow for the border to operate without significant new infrastructure. HMRC are not placing specific requirements on ports and airports to have infrastructure in place by Day 1. HMRC is working with other departments, through the Borders Delivery Group, to ensure we present, to ports and airports, a shared view across government on longer term infrastructure requirements.

Revenue and Customs: Staff

Layla Moran: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many staff have been employed by HMRC in each month since June 2016.

Mel Stride: The number of staff employed in HMRC since June 2016 is in the attached table.



Number of staff employed in HMRC - Table
(Word Document, 34.5 KB)

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Richmond House

Sir Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the cost was of the construction of Richmond House.

Jake Berry: The construction of Richmond House (79 Whitehall) for the Department of Health and Social Security in 1988-89 was undertaken by the Property Services Agency. My Department does not hold details of the costs incurred for these works.

Ministry of Defence

Ministry of Defence: Industrial Health and Safety

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Department's letter of 27 February 2019 to the hon. Member for Bridgend on the Health and Safety Executive, what is meant by the phrase centrally reported.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The phrase centrally reported refers to information recorded at Top Level Budget or equivalent Defence Authority Chief Executive level. Whilst this is considered to be the totality of contraventions it cannot be verified without contacting each site across Defence. To do so could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Ministry of Defence: Industrial Health and Safety

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Department's letter of 27 February 2019 to the hon. Member for Bridgend, which notices of contravention placed on his Department related to the (a) Army, (b) RAF, (c) Royal Navy and (d) Royal Marines in each year between 2012 and 2017.

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Department's letter of 27 February 2019 to the hon. Member for Bridgend on the Health and Safety Executive, whether (a) a policy change, (b) a staffing issue and (c) another reason constituted the reason why notices of contravention placed on the Ministry of Defence by the Health and Safety Executive were not reported centrally in the years (i) 2015 and (ii) 2016.

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Department's letter of 27 February 2019 to the hon. Member for Bridgend on the Health and Safety Executive, to what (a) changes, (b) requirements, (c) staffing, (d) training and (e) other issues the notices of contravention placed on his Department in (i) 2012, (ii) 2013, (iii) 2014 and (iv) 2017 relate.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The information requested could not be collated in the time available. I will write to the hon. Member with details as soon as possible.

Ministry of Defence: Industrial Health and Safety

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Department's letter of 27 February 2019 to the hon. Member for Bridgend on the Health and Safety Executive, what the criteria are for determining whether notices of contravention placed on his Department by that Executive are to be reported (a) centrally and (b) elsewhere.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Health and Safety Executive will predominantly serve Notices of Contravention at the appropriate Defence site. Defence Safety Authority Policy Document 01.1, Chapter 3, Paragraph 24 and 25 provides the reporting criteria for Health, Safety and Environmental Protection events and individual Top Level Budgets or Chief Executive equivalents should be informed by the Defence site of such Notices of Contravention. However, such reporting cannot be guaranteed.

Ministry of Defence: Industrial Health and Safety

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Department's letter of 27 February 2019 to the hon. Member for Bridgend on the Health and Safety Executive, how his Department ensures that when notices of contravention are centrally reported (a) all appropriate follow-up action by the Health and Safety Executive to ensure compliance is completed, (b) lessons are learned, (c) remedial action is implemented, (d) lessons are cascaded across the armed forces and (e) lessons are not confined to one location.

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Department's letter of 27 February 2019 to the hon. Member for Bridgend on the Health and Safety Executive, how his Department ensures that when notices of contravention are not centrally reported (a) all appropriate follow-up action by the Health and Safety Executive to ensure compliance is completed, (b) lessons are learned, (c) remedial action is implemented, (d) lessons are cascaded across the armed forces and (e) lessons are not confined to one location.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: All Notices of Contravention are investigated and tracked by the respective Defence site that have been issued with the Notice and closure with Health and Safety Executive will only take place when sufficient evidence is gained by them. Where lessons are applicable to others within Defence relevant information is cascaded through the Top Level Budgets or the Chief Environment Safety Officer network.

Saudi Arabia: Military Aid

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether any MOD contractor has loaded weapons on to aircraft since March 2015 in Saudi Arabia.

Stuart Andrew: Holding answer received on 07 March 2019



Contracted personnel have loaded weapons on to aircraft for training missions and test and evaluation activity, i.e. exclusively for use on weapons ranges, but they have not loaded weapons on to aircraft for operational sorties.

Saudi Arabia: Military Aid

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer  of 22 January 2019 to Question 207274 on Arms Trade: Saudi Arabia, whether the terms of the (a) 1985 and (b) 1986 Al Yamamah MOUs have been replicated in the Saudi British Defence Cooperation Programme.

Stuart Andrew: Holding answer received on 07 March 2019



The 1986 Memorandum of Understanding continues to govern the government-to-government arrangements for the supply of military equipment and services to the Saudi Arabian Armed Forces, including the programmes of work agreed under the Saudi British Defence Cooperation Programme.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Palm Oil

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent international discussions he has had on the sustainable (a) supply and (b) use of palm oil; and if he will make a statement.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Officials of the Department attended a regular meeting of the Amsterdam Declaration Partnership in October last year to discuss its coordination and delivery. Through the Amsterdam Declarations we are working with businesses and other governments to strengthen governance, promote market-based solutions and put in place incentives, policies and actions that support sustainable production of palm oil alongside forest protection. Whilst attending UNFCCC COP24 in Katowice, Poland last December I met the Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya Bakar from the Republic of Indonesia; palm oil production and the importance of producing it sustainably were discussed.

Biodiversity

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has to prevent loss of biodiversity in the UK.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Domestic biodiversity policy is a devolved matter and the information provided relates to England only, except in relation to our plans internationally. Our 25 Year Environment Plan sets out over 200 actions to enhance the environment and has long-term goals for recovering nature. We are developing a new environmental land management system that will reward farmers and land managers for delivering environmental outcomes such as protection of habitats, which will support our biodiversity goals. At sea, we are expanding our protected areas. Last summer we consulted on an ambitious third tranche of 41 Marine Conservation Zones. Sites to be designated in this tranche will be announced and in place by 7 June. The ongoing declines in nature are a global problem that need a global solution. That is why the UK is committed to playing a leading role in developing a global post-2020 framework under the Convention on Biological Diversity that is ambitious and transformational. Our Darwin Initiative supports global action, awarding £10.6 million to projects in 2018, for example sustaining snow leopard conservation in Nepal. Defra’s contribution to Darwin Plus, our main funding source for UK Overseas Territories’ biodiversity, has totalled nearly £6million over the last three years. We continue to support activities to end poaching and the illegal wildlife trade, including introducing a ban on ivory sales which is the toughest in Europe and one of the strongest in the world.

Nature Conservation

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the potential effectiveness of conservation covenants for nature and wildlife.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan commits us to assess the demand and potential for conservation covenants to secure long-term benefits for nature and to work with stakeholders to review and take forward the Law Commission proposals for a statutory scheme in England. The Law Commission had reviewed the evidence for their use and effectiveness in other countries and undertook a consultation exercise in 2013 to determine if they could be effective and should be introduced here. It concluded that conservation covenants had the potential to deliver lasting conservation benefits for nature and wildlife, as well as other outcomes. A copy of its report can be found at https://www.lawcom.gov.uk/project/conservation-covenants The Government opened a consultation on 22 February on conservation covenants. The consultation seeks views on the potential effectiveness of covenants in securing benefits for nature. We will review the responses once the consultation closes. The consultation can be found athttps://consult.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-management/conservation-covenants/.

Home Office

Radicalism: Islam

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the effect of foreign Islamic organisations that promote a Salafist Whahhabist ideology on the growth of domestic violent extremism.

Victoria Atkins: The Government take the threat of extremism, non-violent extremism as well as violent extremism, very seriously. We continuously build our understanding of the threat so we can respond to it appropriately. As has been the policy of successive governments, the Government does not comment on matters relating to security.

Department for Exiting the European Union

Small Businesses

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, with reference to the Government's paper entitled, Implications for Business and Trade of a No Deal Exit on 29 March 2019, what estimate he has made of the number of SMEs that would become financially distressed as a result of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

Chris Heaton-Harris: We have been clear that leaving the EU with a deal remains the Government’s top priority. The paper ‘Implications for Business and Trade of a No Deal Exit on 29 March 2019’ explains that leaving the European Union without a deal on 29 March 2019 would have a variety of effects on business, trade and the economy, and despite government mitigation, the impact of a 'no deal' scenario is expected to be significant in a number of areas. As a Government, we do not want ‘no deal’, however it is only prudent that we ensure businesses are as prepared as possible for every outcome.The priorities and concerns of SMEs are taken seriously by Government. DExEU Ministers have attended the SME Advisory Board, chaired by BEIS. We are providing guidance to business to assist with their preparations, through a public information campaign on the radio, via social media, in print, with out-of-home advertising such as billboards, and we are developing TV advertisements, to ensure that all are aware of our preparations guidance on GOV.UK.

Department for Exiting the European Union: Staff

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, how many staff have been employed by his Department in each month since July 2016.

Chris Heaton-Harris: The number of staff employed by the Department for Exiting the European Union has been published each month since July 2017 as part of our transparency reporting. It can be found on gov.uk. The table below sets out the monthly figures prior to July 2017.  MonthHeadcountJul 16115Aug 16175Sept 16220Oct 16280Nov 16307Dec 16315Jan 17335Feb 17339Mar 17363Apr 17392May 17430Jun 17444

Brexit: Northern Ireland

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, if he take steps to ensure that legal changes to the Northern Ireland backstop are a priority in the negotiations on the withdrawal agreement with the EU.

Mr Robin Walker: The Government has been clear that we are seeking legally binding changes to the backstop that are necessary to ensure the EU cannot hold the UK in it indefinitely. Both the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union and the Attorney General have been discussing this objective with the EU.

Gibraltar

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, whether the status of Gibraltar remains a red line for the UK in its negotiations on leaving the EU.

Mr Robin Walker: British sovereignty over Gibraltar is not negotiable and the Government is negotiating a deal that works for the whole UK family, including Gibraltar. We will never enter into arrangements under which the people of Gibraltar would pass under the sovereignty of another state against their wishes, nor enter into a process of sovereignty negotiations with which Gibraltar is not content. We are proud that Gibraltar is British and our position on sovereignty has not, and will not, change.

Department for International Trade

Free Trade: Trade Agreements

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many free trade deals with countries he plans to sign within the first six months after the UK leaves the EU.

George Hollingbery: Our priority is to be in a position to begin formal negotiations with key partners after we leave the EU, and to then make progress towards substantive agreements, so long as such agreements work for the whole of the UK. We have consulted on our first four potential free trade agreements (FTAs), with Australia, New Zealand, the United States and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). We will publish the Government’s response to these consultations before any negotiations begin. Trade agreements vary in shape, scope and form, and there is no “average” timeframe. For example, the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between the EU and Canada took seven years to negotiate, the China-Switzerland FTA took two, but the USA-Jordan FTA negotiations only four months. The Government is clear that its objective is to negotiate the best possible free trade agreements for the whole of the UK, in the interests of business and consumers. Necessarily, this will take different amounts of time to conclude with different partners. While we are looking to forge new agreements, the Government is also seeking continuity for our existing EU trade agreements as we leave the European Union. We have made good progress, signing trade continuity agreements with Switzerland, Chile, the Eastern and Southern African (ESA) states, the Faroe Islands, Israel, and the Palestinian Authority.We will post details of signed agreements on the Gov.uk website.

Import Duties

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union on the potential effect on prices of unilaterally removing all tariffs on particular goods after the UK leaves the EU.

George Hollingbery: If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, the UK will be able to set its own independent tariff regime. We will communicate a decision on what is a market sensitive information to stakeholders and the public as soon as possible. This is a very complex policy area, so ministers have examined a range of options for our no deal future tariff regime and carefully considered the evidence available in the interests of UK businesses and consumers.

Department for International Trade: Staff

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many staff have been employed by his Department in each month since July 2016.

George Hollingbery: The Department for International Trade (DIT) workforce includes employees (including those working overseas and UK Export Finance), contractors and those on loan from other government departments or seconded from organisations external to the Civil Service. This definition has been used for reporting workforce data from March 2017. Prior to this, workforce data included those who were on loan or secondment out of DIT, on special leave or on a career break, but these groups have been removed in subsequent analysis to present a clearer picture of our workforce. Workforce data is prepared at the end of each month. Month endingTotal workforce31/07/2016257331/08/2016259730/09/2016289931/10/2016268630/11/2016272231/12/2016259231/01/2017272828/02/2017288931/03/2017284130/04/2017303931/05/2017309630/06/2017323231/07/2017307331/08/2017335230/09/2017347131/10/2017362730/11/2017367131/12/2017371831/01/2018386128/02/2018386131/03/2018377430/04/2018377931/05/2018378130/06/2018380531/07/2018383431/08/2018381330/09/2018388231/10/2018392030/11/2018392031/12/2018392531/01/20193990